Stephanie’s Roatan Guidebook & Travel Tips

Most of our guests will opt to rent a vehicle for the duration of their stay, in order to have the flexibility to explore the island. There are a number of rental companies (including several international agencies like AVIS) at the airport, and I recommend reserving your vehicle in advance of your arrival. Alternatively, if you'd prefer not to rent, I'll connect you with an island concierge who can assist with arranging transportation for you.

If you're coming from abroad, don't bother bringing Lempiras (our local currency) with you... US dollars are accepted everywhere, and you'll pick up Lemps along the way as change. Credit cards are accepted at many businesses, but some don't take them, so it's a good idea to have some cash with you. ATMs are also available at the banks at Mega Plaza mall so you can take out cash in Lemps if you need to.

We don't have street addresses here like you might be accustomed to elsewhere; houses aren't numbered and many roads aren't even named. For your arrival forms, under address, simply indicate: [House Name], [Community Name] Roatan, Bay Islands Honduras

Like anywhere else in the world, there’s some crime here, but Roatan is generally a very safe place. In all the years I’ve lived here I’ve never been in a situation where I felt my safety was at risk. That said, the little crime we do have is generally crime of opportunity, so it’s not wise to leave valuables unattended in public places (i.e. don’t leave your fancy iPhone sitting on a bar). Other than that, it’s just common sense stuff that you would follow anywhere (i.e. you probably wouldn’t be hanging out in dark alleys at home, so there’s no good reason to do it here either).

Part of life here is the presence of lots of little critters. Among other things, we have geckos that live inside and outside (you may hear them chirping), and there are bugs. Of course we do have pest control measures in place, but you may still come across some "friends" (usually tiny ants) inside or outside your rental, as they're attracted to water and food. There are also sandflies ("noseeums"/midges), which are found everywhere on the island, especially at dawn and dusk. I recommend being proactive with repellant (natural or deet-based) when outdoors, as they can leave an itchy bite.

Roatan's climate is generally sunny and beautiful, with prevailing easterly trade winds and very little temperature fluctuation throughout the year. From February through September, daily highs range from 84°F (29°C) to 90°F (32°C). Our rainy season runs from about mid-October through late January, with highs averaging around 83°F (28°C) and lows around 77°F (25°C). Even in rainy season, we get a good mix of rain and sunshine; some days have lots of rain, some have lots of sun, but most have a bit of both.

Don't miss out on the incredible snorkeling available in Roatan. If you want to save luggage space, travel fins are a perfect option and quite affordable to purchase for your vacation.

Roatan's international airport is Juan Manuel Galvez (RTB). There are direct flights throughout the year from: -Miami with American (daily) -Dallas with American (frequency varies) -Atlanta with Delta (Saturdays) -Houston with United (frequency varies) Seasonal flights (approx mid-Dec to mid-Apr) are available from: -Minneapolis with Sun Country (Fridays) -Denver with United (Saturdays) -Toronto with WestJet (Sundays) -Toronto, Montreal & Quebec City with Sunwing (Mondays)

There are flights to Roatan from: -Belize City with Tropic Air (Sun, Mon, Thu, Fri) -Guatemala City with CM/Tag (Daily via San Pedro Sula) -San Salvador with CM/Tag (Mon, Wed, Fri) If already in Honduras, daily domestic flights are available with: -CM Airlines (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) -Sosa Airlines (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) -Lanhsa Airlines (La Ceiba & Guanaja) The Galaxy Wave ferry comes twice daily from La Ceiba. It also comes on weekends from Guanaja. The Utila Dream ferry comes daily from Utila.

Our wall outlets use the North American standard sockets and voltage of 110 volts. If you’re traveling from somewhere that uses a different standard, power converters will be necessary.

Please make sure your passport does not expire for a minimum of 6 months beyond your return travel date. Honduras grants travel visas on arrival to passport holders from over 100 countries, including the US, Canada, and Mexico, as well as all Central American countries. Residents of other countries should check with their Honduran Embassy/Consulate before leaving for specific entry requirements.

Most native Roatan Islanders are bilingual, having learned Spanish in school. but raised with the local Creole English dialect at home (many islanders -- especially the younger generations -- will “tone down” their Creole to make their English understandable for foreigners). That said, some of the population speaks Spanish exclusively, so knowing a few phrases (or having a translation app on your phone) can help!

Carlos, David, and Kevin are a team of friendly, knowledgeable guides, so even if you have a rental vehicle, it can be nice to experience a guided tour to learn more about the island or have a designated driver for a special night out. Look up their website to contact them and see details about their offerings.

Should you have medical needs, the following facilities are available in the French Harbour area. PHARMACIES: - Farmacia Del Ahorro - Bojangles Plaza, French Harbour - Farmacia Siman - Megaplaza Mall, French Harbour 24 HR EMERGENCY CENTRES: - Cemesa Hospital- Megaplaza Mall, French Harbour (offers private ambulance service and medical flights) - Centro Medico Quirúrgico (CMQ)- Brick Bay (available for walk-in clinic services in addition to medical emergencies)

Our island roads require a different skillset than you may be accustomed to. I encourage you to drive defensively, as you can expect the following: - winding roads with blind curves - potholes, dirt roads, road construction - congestion, especially in and around Coxen Hole, and especially on cruise ship days - vehicles passing you, including motorcycles passing on either side - cows, horses, or dogs in the street - pedestrians crossing the street anywhere - taxis stopping abruptly to pick up or drop off passengers - police checkpoints (usually checking for valid licenses and registrations)

While many local families are supported by tourism, wages are low, so I’d encourage you to be generous, and have cash handy for tips. Just like in North America, tipping is customary in restaurants, with 10% for standard service, 15% for good service, and 20% for outstanding service. An automatic gratuity of 10% is sometimes added (look for “Servicio” or “Propina” on your bill), though most restaurants are now moving away from this. For activities, 10-15% of the cost of the activity is customary.